International Journal of Trend in Scientific

Research and Development (IJTSRD)

International Open Access Journal ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume - 2 | Issue – 4

The Indian Magical Herb: ‘Sanjeevni’ (Selaginella Bryopteris) Rohit Kumar*, Rajan Kothari1, Jayesh Gadhiya Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mewar University, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India 1Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mewar University, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India

Abstract-- India is the largest producer of medicinal used the extracts from plant life to calm and relieve herbs and is called the botanical garden of the world. aches and pains of body parts. Many of the plants that and herbal medicine are two important were discovered by ancient civilizations are still in forms of alternative medicine that is widely available used. For example; the leaves of willows, which in India. In rural India, 70 per cent of the population contain a compound very similar to aspirin, were depends on the traditional type of medicine. In India chewed by Native Americans to relieve aches and the herbal remedy is so popular that the government pains, the cinchona tree from South America used of India has created a separate department— against malaria. Because of this plant life is a very AYUSH—under the Ministry of Health & Family vital part of human life; without plants, both land and Welfare. In Indian mythology sanjeevani also known sea dwelling, human life could not exist. as miracle herb due to its alleged potentiality for Plenty of herbs are available for plenty of illnesses. ‘resurrecting’ life. Literally sanjeevani means Use of medicinal herbs is more safe and natural way something that offers life; jeeva = life. Out of to treat our body and mind, than eating synthetic pills. preliminary listing of about 17 plant species which In Ayurveda medicinal plants, herbs, spices and could be Sanjeevani only three final species were herbal remedies are known since long times. shortlisted which were Cressa cretica, Selaginella Nowadays, the value of medicinal plants, herbs and bryopteris, and Desmotrichum fimbriatum. Out of spices as herbal medicine is being lost due to lack of which currently Selaginella bryopteris is considered awareness and knowledge. as Sanjeevani. Sanjeevani is distributed widely in India and Nepal. This herbs have lots of medicinal In Indian mythology sanjeevani also known as values such as Relief from heat stroke and the burning miracle herb due to its alleged potentiality for sensation during urination, Restoring menstrual ‘resurrecting’ life. Literally sanjeevani means irregularities to normal, Helping in easy delivery of something that offers life; jeeva = life. Out of pregnant women in minimizing the labor pain, In the preliminary listing of about 17 plant species which treatment of Jaundice, Antiprotozoal activity, In the could be Sanjeevani only three final species were treatment of HIV infection, Growth promoting and shortlisted which were Cressa cretica, Selaginella protective activity, Activity against rediation, In bryopteris, and Desmotrichum fimbriatum. Out of improvement of learning and memory, In dehydration, which currently Selaginella bryopteris is considered etc. as Sanjeevani [1]. Selaginella existed before 300 million years and comes under a group of plants Key words-- Traditional, resurrecting, Selaginella which were the first vascular plants on earth [2]. bryopteris A. Mythology behind ‘Sanjeevani’: I. INTRODUCTION The popular name Sanjeevani which translates as Humans have always used plant for multiple "One that infuses life" derives from the medicinal purposes. Plants are becoming known more and more properties of the plant. In Hindu mythology, for their vital usage in many areas, as well as Sanjeevani is a magical herb which has the ability to medicinal purposes. In ancient cultures, medicine men

@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 4 | May-Jun 2018 Page: 484 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 cure any disease. It was believed that medicines C. General characteristics prepared from this herb could revive a dead person. The general characteristics of Selaginellaceae family This herb is mentioned in the when, to which Selaginella bryopteris belongs is also known (King of demons) hurls a powerful weapon at as Spike Moss Family includes plants that grow in or (brother of Lord Rama) who had killed on rocks and feed off moss, nutrients in rain water, his beloved son . Lakshmana was badly litter, and even their own dead tissue. wounded and was nearly killed by Ravana. When Lakshmana fell unconscious, near death, hit by an Stem: The stem is generally erect and radially arrow from Ravana, (beloved disciple of constructed in the subgenus homoeophyllum. The Lord Rama) approached the Lankan Royal Physician branching is dichotomous in the homoeophyllum and Sushena for advice. Sushena asked Hanuman to rush somewhat lateral in heterophyllus.The anatomy of to Dronagiri Hills and fetch four plants: mature stem is very distinct and is differentiated into Mruthasanjeevani (restorer of life), Vishalyakarani an outer epidermis, middle cortex and centrally (remover of arrows), Sandhanakarani (restorer of the located stele. The cortex is usually made up of skin) and Savarnyakarani (restorer of skin colour) [3]. compactly arranged angular parenchymatous cells without intercellular spaces. There is much variation Hanuman, not able to pick the four from the in the vascular cylinder among the different species of multitude, brought back the entire mountain. And Selaginella. The number of stele varies from species Lakshmana was revived from near death back to life. to species and sometimes even in the same species. In various Vedic texts and also in Ramayana it has This is due to the dissection of the main stele. been clearly mentioned that sanjeevani booti glows in the dark. When made slightly wet and kept in dark it Rhizophores: glows; emits light. Its properties and usage has also In Greek rhiza means root and phora means bearer. In been described [4]. many species of Selaginella, peculiar leafless, prop- Thus it is likely that Sanjeevani had properties like cylindrical, structures, originate from the stem at capable of awakening or rejuvenating (and in that the point of branching. These grow downwards into sense ‘resurrecting’) him. It is also likely that owing the surface and form many adventitious roots at their to similarities of the syndrome of this stage with that free ends. They are known as rhizophores. of death, story tellers have termed the herb as a ‘life The plants are heterosporous (megaspores and giver’. Accordingly, if Sanjeevani does exist, it should microspores), and have structures called ligules, scale- have the ability bringing coma patients back to normal like outgrowths near the base of the upper surface of living state [5]. each microphyll and sporophyll. Unusually for the B. Taxonomy/ Scientific classification of Selaginella lycopods, each microphyll contains a branching bryopteris: vascular trace. Roots borne on wiry rhizophores arising from forks in stems. Sporangia borne in axils

1. Kingdom: Plantae of fertile leaves (sporophylls). Plants are

2. Division: Lycopodiophyta heterosporous. Life cycle of Selaginella includes

3. Class: Isoetopsida various stages having micro sporangia,

4. Order: Selaginellales megasporangia etc. Microspores are small, numerous,

5. Family: Selaginellaceae megaspores large, 4 per megasporangium. The

6. Genus: Selaginella gametophyte develops inside the megaspore. 7. Species: • apoda Chromosome count of Selaginella bryopteris: • asprella n=10. • bifida Distribution: • biformis • bigelovii India- Uttaranchal, U.P., M.P., Chhattishgarh, Bihar, • braunii Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu. • bryopteris Nepal- Common at Western and Central part. • canaliculata • carinata Habitat: • cinerascens

@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 4 | May-Jun 2018 Page: 485 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 Sanjeevani grows on the mountains of tropical areas, in the extremely hot hours in the month of May- June particularly the Arawali Mountain terrains from east in the tropical part of the country. to west in India. S. bryopteris is known to be a (2) Restoring menstrual irregularities to normal: poikilohydric lithophyte occurring along the The cycle of reproductive activity shown by most mountains and in fact, this herb is sold for this sexually mature non-pregnant female mammals peculiar feature in several markets in India mostly in except most primates is called as the menstrual places of piligrimage such as Rishikesh, Hardwar and cycle/oestrous cycle/sexual cycle. The menstrual Varanasi .The plants grow luxuriantly during rains cycle is the periodic vaginal discharges in human and exhibiting a lush green velvety landscape. Sanjeevani other mammals and the discharge is made up of blood booti (Selaginella bryopteris) has been reported to and cells shed from the inner lining of uterus. have the highest degrees of drought resistance [6]. Selaginella bryopteris is also used to cure the During summer the plants undergo extreme irregularities in the oestrous cycle or menstrual cycle. desiccation. The fronds curl, become dry and virtually dead. In this condition they look like a closed fist (3) Helping in easy delivery of pregnant women in hence often known in Unani as ‘punjemariam’ or minimizing the labor pain: The female mammal ‘hathazori’. The dry plants when left in water unfold hormone “relaxin” (released from ovaries) makes the their fronds, turn green and come back to active life delivery of the baby easy through the narrow passage [7]. The dry plants have traditionally been used as a of vaginal walls, by expanding its muscles. If this remedy for several human health complications for hormone is not produced in the adequate quantity by centuries in India, particularly by tribal peoples. the body, then the labour pain (delivery pain) becomes unbearable. Selaginella bryopteris also has Molecular bioactivities/Medicinal Properties: the power to help in easy delivery of pregnant women The Sanjeevani booti or Selaginella bryopteris also in minimizing the labor pain. has many therapeutic properties and is in use by local (4) In the treatment of Jaundice: Jaundice is the people for centuries. The sanjeevani herb contains a physiological disorder of human body in which the variety of secondary metabolites and bioactive liver is affected by certain bacteria and becomes compounds such as alkaloids, phenol (flavonoids, unable to perform its normal function i.e. to tannins, saponins), and terpenoids (triterpene, steroid). breakdown the harmful nitrogenous wastes and to The main secondary metabolite of this herb is make the internal environment clean and secure. Liver biflavonoid, whose type is various depending on the also secretes a greenish-yellow alkaline fluid called as species [8]. These compounds act as antioxidants, ‘Bile’, which help in the digestion and absorption of anti-stress, antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, anti- fats. Bile is stored in the gall bladder. Bile also allergic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, contains the bile pigments- Bilirubin and Biliverdin, antiviral, antiprotozoan, anti UV-irradiation, anti- which is produced by the breakdown of blood spasmodic, vasorelaxant, heart boosters, pigment- haemoglobin. In jaundice excess bile antihypertensive, anti- clotting, and affect the pigments –‘bilirubin’ starts gathering in the metabolism enzymes [9] evaluate the antimicrobial, bloodstream and tissues giving a yellow to orange and phytochemical, minimal inhibitory concentration even greenish colour to the skin, the white parts of the (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) eyes and the mucous membrane. Jaundice may also be activity of the S. bryopteris used in folkoric medicine due to the blockage of bile flow start gathering in the compared to all test showed significant activity blood, which ultimately impart yellow colour to the against tested microorganism like Bacillus subtilis, body and make the blood impure Sanjeevani Booti or Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus Selaginella bryopteris is also used by traditional epidermidis. Biflavonoids are naturally occurring Indian people to cure the deadly disease i.e. Jaundice. compounds that are omnipresent in all vascular plants and have many favorable biological and (5) Antiprotozoal activity: A series of eleven pharmacological effects [10]. Traditionally the plant biflavonoids containing amentoflavone and has certain specific properties and is used for: hinokiflavone derivatives from S. bryopteris had been investigated for their antiprotozoal activity using in (1) Relief from heat stroke and the burning vitro assays against the KI strain of Plasmodium sensation during urination: Selaginella bryopteris is falciparum, Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma extensively used in curing the heat strokes, which is a brucei, rhodesiense and Trypanosoma cruzi [11]. very common complaint of humans working outside

@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 4 | May-Jun 2018 Page: 486 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 (6) In the treatment of HIV infection: hinokiflavone [1] K. N. Ganeshaiah, R. Vasudeva and R. Uma is effective against HIV Infections [12]. Shaanker (2009) In search of Sanjeevani Current (7) Growth promoting and protective activity: The Science, Vol. 97, No. 4. aqueous extract of the herb possesses significant [2] Banks JA (2009) Annual Review Plant Biology growth promoting and protective activities against 60:223-38. several stress-induced apoptosis in experimental cell [3] Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, 74th chapter, Yuddakanda, Slokas 29-34. systems [13, 14]. [4] http://www.dipika.org.za/index.php?option=com_ (8) Activity against rediation: Water extract of S. content&view=article&id=343: s & cat d=27: bryopteris also significantly reduces potent cell dying glossary-of-hindu-terms-with- caused by UV irradiation and increases endurance to pictures&Itemid=34. oxidative stress, assists cell growth and protects from [5] Ganeshaiah KN, Vasudeva R and Shaanker RU: free radical stress caused by H2O2 [15]. In search of Sanjeevani. Current Science 2009; (9) In improvement of learning and memory: 97(4): 25 Methanolic extract of S. bryopteris significantly [6] Pankaj Sah (2008)Does the Magical Himalayan improved learning and memory of Swiss Albino Herb “Sanjeevani Booti” really exist in Nature? Mice. Antioxidant property of herb may be The Journal of American Science, 4(3), ISSN contributing favourably to the memory enhancement 1545-1003. effect [16]. [7] Nand K Sah, Shyam Nandan P Singh, Sudhir Sahdev, Sharmishta Banerji, Vidyanath Jha, Zakir (10) In dehydration: Chemical analysis shows that Khan And Seyed E Hasnain. (2005) Indian herb the herb contains hexoses and proteins [17, 18] ‘Sanjeevani’ (Selaginella bryopteris) can promote suggest that S. bryopteris, has about 250 proteins that growth and protect against heat shock and expressed in response to dehydration. apoptotic activities of ultra violet and oxidative CONCLUSION stress J. Biosci. 30(4): 499–505. [8] Setyawan AD and Darusman LK. Review: Several species of Selaginella are also used as food Biflavonoid compounds of Selaginella P. Beauv. (raw vegetables), ornamental plants, handicrafts and its benefit. Indonesia. Biodiversitas 2008; materials as well as socio-cultural and packaging 9(1): 64-81. materials. The utilization of Selaginella is very limited [9] Malviya, Jitendra, Vaibhavi Joshi and Kiran compared to the number of species and the potential Singh: Antimicrobial activity of Some Ethno- benefits of the medicine, so it requires further medicinal Plants used by Baiga Tribes from ethnobotanical and phytochemical researches. Amarkantak, India. Advances in Life Science and Well, we have seen the genesis of the world Technology 2012; 4: 19-26. Sanjeevani (Life giving herb) from the Indian [10] Swamy RC, O Kunert, W Schuhly, F Bucar, D Himalayas, mentioned in the grand old Hindu Epic Ferreira, VS Rani, BR Kumar, and AVNA Rao: “The Ramayana.” We have also explored the plant Structurally unique biflavonoids from Selaginella botanically and can conclude that this is exactly not chrysocaulos and Selaginella bryopteris. the similar plant as described in the Ramayana but Chemistry and Biodiversity, 2006; 3 (4): 405- interestingly it’s a fern plant that has been used by 414. local peoples from centuries and has earned the name [11] Kunert O, Swamy RC, Kaiser M, Presser A, Sanjeevani for itself. It is above board that this Buzzi S, Appa- Rao AVN, and Schühly W: particular plant locally known as Sanjeevani, finds a Antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal activity of place in the group of Heterosporous Pteridophytes of biflavonoids from Indian Selaginella bryopteris. Indian Himalayas, when studied from botanical point Phytochemistry Letters 2008; 1(4): 171-174. of view. Scientifically it is known as Selaginella [12] Lee JS, Lee MS, Oh WK and Sul JY: Fatty bryopteris. There is no doubt that this plant has acid synthase inhibition by amentoflavone several important medicinal properties and has been induces apoptosis and antiproliferation in human worshipped among local people as a magical herb breast cancer cells. Biological & Pharmaceutical owing to its medicinal properties. Bulletin 2009; 32(8): 1427-1432. References

@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 4 | May-Jun 2018 Page: 487 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470 [13] Friedlander RM: Apoptosis and caspases in [16] Garg NK: Memory Enhancing Activity of neurodegenerative diseases. The New England Methanolic Extract of Selaginella bryopteris in Journal of Medicine 2003; 348: 1365–1375. Swiss Albino Mice. Pharma Tutor, Pharmacy [14] Ahmad Dwi Setyawan: Traditionally Infopedia 2011. http://www.pharmatutor.org. utilization of Selaginella, field research and [17] Ahmad Dwi Setyawan: Review: Natural literature review. Nusantra Bio Science. 2009; products from Genus Selaginella 1(3): 146-158. (Selaginellaceae). Nusantra Bioscience 2011; [15] Pandey S, Khan AA, Shankar K and Singh N. 3(1): 44-58. An experimental study on the anti-stress and [18] Deeba F, Pandey V, Pathre U, Kanojiya S: antioxidant activity of Selaginnella bryopteris. Proteome analysis of detached fronds from a Journal of Biological and Chemical Research resurrection plant Selaginella bryopteris–response 1993; 12: 128-129. to dehydration and rehydration. Journal of proteomics bioinformatics 2009; 2(2): 108-116.

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